TELEGRAPHIC.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1042, 27 October 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

[I’ER PRESS AGENCY.] INTERPROYINCIAL. Dunedin, October 27. A counter memorial expressing confidence in Mr Burns as member for Roslyn is in course of signature. A volunteer review is to be held on Forbury Park on the 9th November, and promises to be a great success. It is expected that 2®oo volunteers will be present, Westport, October 27. Messrs Bailey and Humphreys, the owners of the schooner Frances Gertrude, have received a Melbourne cable message stating that the vessel is a total wreck on King’s Island. The crew have all arrived in MelThere were no passengers, and the vessel is partially insured. PARLIAMENTARY. Last Night’s Proceedings. Wellington, October 27. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds after Major Atkinson had spoken, said that he did not think the House would be justified in passing such a resolution without giving Ministers a fair trial and hearing their policy. The public would not support them in such a course. They could not judge of them till they heard their measures. He then moved as an amendment “ That until the Government declared their policy the House declined to entertain the question of confidence or no confidence.” Mr Manders supported the original motion, believing it would place in powera reconstructed Ministry worth of confidence. Sir Q-. Grey having spoken 1 Mr Gisborne explained why ho felt obliged to vote for the motion after so lately having voted on the other side. He opposed the late Government because of their improvident and shifty finance and unsatisfactory administration. He had hoped by joining the Middle party to place in a moderate Government under moderately experienced leaders, but the Middle party were deceived. The last thing they wished to do was to put Sir George Grey in power. While declining to accept Sir G. Grey as a leader he said he would not vote against him unless his measures and policy proved repugnant to his principles. They had proved so on all important questions of the unity of the colony. Sir George Grey had surrounded himself with a party last year pledged individually to financial separation and federation, and he could not believe them so insincere as to change by being on the Government ieivksy. Indirectly or directly they would work »u direction, and he could not, therefore, support, Mr Montgomery, at considerable length, reviewed fhe past conduct of the Atkinson Ministry t» show that they did not deserve restoration to office. Since 1575 they had increased the public debt by £6,632,000, and seriously injured the public credit. If the present Government were turned out without an opportunity of declaring their policy they would not, turn the other cheek, and their successors wold ■ not have a pleasant time of it. Such an attempt as the present was contrary to all constitutional usages. Dr Wallis strongly condemned the motion as unfair, and n't stiglh reviewed the policy of the Atkinson Uiniilq, £9 bsiisved tljat tfce eouatry w-

joiccd over the radical change of administration, and he hoped that the present men would retain office till the finances were placed in a better condition, their shattered constitution restored, and real local government established. They should also be left free to fully investigate the conduct of their predecessors. No greater public misfortune could occur than the return of the late Ministry to power, however disguised or re-constructed. Although a Separationist, he was content now to accept the unity of the colony, with a common purse, and the land fund as colonial revenue. Mr Delatouv strongly condemned the conduct of those members who, having a fortnight ago assisted to turn out Major Atkinson, now wanted to put him back, and crown their infamy by seeking office under liirn. He thought the proceedings of the late Ministry required investigation. He condemned the present motion as indecent and unconstitutional, and urged an agreement between the North and South on the land fund question on the basis of a fixed proportion being localised. Mr Shrimski moved the adjournment of the debate till Monday. The House rose at 1.25 p.m. [prom our own correspondent Wellington, October 27. The debate last night was very uninteresting. Mr Gisborne made a very lame excuse for joining the Opposition, after having offered Sir George Grey his support, and was met with the groans of the Government party. The Opposition only contributed three speeches to the debate. The Government did the rest of the talking. When the adjournment was proposed the Opposition opposed it until Mr Sheehan gave a promise, privately, that they would take the division on Monday. The adjournment was then agreed to; but Sir George Grey hinted at a prolongation by wishing to see the matter fully debated out. The Opposition will probably have a majority of five on theamendrnent, and eleven on the motion itself. Sir George Grey’s enquiries have ended in smoke, and his disclosures broke down.